The Missing and Murdered from Pine Ridge

Larissa Lonehill grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, one of the largest native reservations in the United States. Her family described her as beautiful, caring and funny- and a girl with a smile that everyone noticed. She was part of a large family and was the 6th of 8 children and Larissa herself would become a young mother at age 19. Although her baby’s father and his family had custody, Larissa was a devoted mom. Often hitchhiking or walking just to see her baby. Life on the reservation was hard, and at one point, Larissa moved 100 miles away to live with her sister in Rapid City. On October 2, 2016, after visiting her mother, she was picked up by her boyfriend to go to a nearby mall. She texted her cousin the next day about going to a party. Larissa would never be seen or heard from again. Where is Larissa Lonehill? Let’s talk about the life of Larissa Lonehill and what might have happened in October of 2016. Larissa was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservat...

Chief US District Judge Roberto Lange, handed down a sentence of 21 years on 20 year old Jonnie Fineran Thursday morning, from a case that first happened in July 2020. Lange, in speaking of the sentence and where Fineran is presently incarcerated at Fort Worth Texas, said “I hope you mature and grow out of whatever impulse that” promoted the planned execution of one to two people. Also looking forward, Lange granted an upward variance for extreme conduct, with can increase the range of possible incarceration, from 168-210 months, to 210-262 months. Fineran, having already served 707 days, will have these days taken off as time served off, she will also receive five years of supervised release, compliance with probation office recommendations, drug tests, DNA collection, cooperation with psychological evaluation as required and medical treatment as provided. Likewise she will have to pay the mandatory $100 to the special victims fund. When Fineran was only 18 years old, she was arrested...

I n the late evening hours of Aug. 1, 2016 or the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2016, 25-year-old Todd Little Bull of Kyle was shot dead in a vehicle on BIA 2 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. For over five years, the two men who were with him withheld the truth: that they were responsible for the death and Todd himself had asked to be killed as part of a plan to discredit a spiritual leader. Stetson Eagle Elk, who shot Little Bull in the head and chest, was sentenced last week to 18 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for second-degree murder and aiding and abetting. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Viken in Rapid City sentenced Gary Little Bull to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for second-degree murder. Both accepted plea deals.  “This is one of the most unusual cases I’ve been associated with,” said Stanton Anker, Gary’s defense attorney, at the sentencing. Viken mirrored that sentiment...

  On the early morning hours of January 5, a triple homicide occurred in Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. On January 10, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Department of Public Safety released the names of three deceased victims who were shot and killed inside a home on the reservation.  The bodies of Alma Garneaux , 38, Jamie Graham , also 38, and Michael White Plume Sr ., 39, were found shot to death inside a home located at 554 BIA 28, Wounded Knee, according to a statement from the FBI.  “My heart is broken for the families of the three victims,” said South Dakota State Senator Red Dawn Foster to Native News Online. “This level of violence is not reflective of our community or our people. As the community begins to heal from his senseless act of violence, continue to pray for the families.” Foster represents District 27 from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is Oglala Lakota and Diné.  FBI ...

  Five people pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the murder of a juvenile female near Rockyford on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Tyson White Plume, age 27, pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The Department of Justice claims that Tyson White Plume shot and killed the juvenile in February. The juvenile, 17-year-old Shayna L. Youngman Afraid of His Horses, was last seen Feb. 3. Her remains were found Feb. 11 near Manderson. Raymond White Plume , age 19; Sarah Stone , age 42; Jaimee Lewis, age 41; and Ivan White Plume a/k/a Ivan White Butterfly , age 30; all pleaded not guilty to accessory after the fact to second degree murder. They allegedly covered up the killing to prevent Tyson White Plume from being arrested. The White Plumes are being detained while Stone and Lewis are released on bond. A trial date was set for Oct. 4. A conviction for second degree murder and discharge of a firearm during a crime...

  Missing Since 10/29/2015 Missing From Kyle, South Dakota Classification Missing Sex Male Race Biracial, Hispanic, Native American Date of Birth 05/06/1991 (31) Age 24 years old Height and Weight 5'7, 200 pounds Clothing/Jewelry Description A black or gray shirt, black shorts or plaid shorts with blue stripes, and white Converse or Nike sneakers with a black stripe. Distinguishing Characteristics Biracial (Hispanic/Native American) male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Vasquez may use the last name Gay. His nicknames are Alex and Tank. His hair was shoulder-length at the time of his disappearance. He is of Lakota Indian and Mexican descent. Details of Disappearance Vasquez was last seen in Kyle, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, on October 29, 2015. He walked out of his brother's trailer near American Horse Creek that night and has never been heard from again. Vasquez didn't have a cellular phone or debit card at the time of his disappearance. Few details are ava...

  Missing Since 07/20/2017 Missing From Porcupine, South Dakota Classification Endangered Missing Sex Male Race Native American Date of Birth 04/15/1968 (54) Age 49 years old Height and Weight 5'2 - 5'4, 130 - 170 pounds Clothing/Jewelry Description A black jacket. a white t-shirt, dark gray sweatpants and gray hi-top Nike shoes OR a red shirt and black and red shorts. Medical Conditions Little Eagle suffers from dementia and seizures, and needs medication which he doesn't have with him. He is also legally blind. Distinguishing Characteristics Native American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Little Eagle may use the first name Mesu. Details of Disappearance Little Eagle was last seen in Porcupine, South Dakota on July 20, 2017. He left on foot, headed in the direction of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, which is over 150 miles away. He has never been heard from again. He may tell people his name is Mesu Little Eagle and ask for directions to Scottsbluff. Few details are available in his...

  Missing Since 09/01/1989 Missing From Porcupine, South Dakota Classification Endangered Missing Sex Female Race Native American Age 13 years old Height and Weight 5'1 - 5'5, 120 - 130 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics Native American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Lori's ears are pierced. Details of Disappearance Lori was last seen in Porcupine, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She left her residence, possibly en route to Rapid City, South Dakota, and never returned. She has never been heard from again. Few details are available in her case.

Delma Lou Sits Poor , Female, American Indian / Alaska Native Delma ("Babe")has been missing since she was 13 years old. Today she would be 61 years old.  She has been missing since February 20th, 1975. At the time of her disappearance she was 5'5" tall and 135 pounds.  She and another twelve-year-old girl left Delma's home and were walking a back road from Oglala to Manderson, near the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Temperatures were below zero at the time.  Delma's friend turned back after her hands and feet got frostbitten, but Delma continued towards Manderson. She never arrived at her destination and has never been heard from again. She was a student at the Seventh Day Adventist School between Oglala and Pine Ridge at the time of her disappearance. Authorities believe Delma is deceased, but her body has never been found and the circumstances of her disappearance are unclear. She was last seen wearing a  white down-filled ja...